Don’t throw in the towel just yet forHeels. The Starz wrestling drama wasrecently canceled after two seasons on the networkalong with three other series, leaving things off with a major cliffhanger finale that left the future of the Duffy Wrestling League in question. ShowrunnerMike O’Malleyrecently toldEntertainment Weeklythat the plans aren’t for the series to end on that note, however. The show is actively seeking a new home to continue on with Season 3 and O’Malley already has some plans as to what could happen if the show receives a second chance.
“Yeah, we are actively doing it right now,” O’Malley said regarding finding an outlet to pick the series up. “And some of the actors are still under contract. Obviously, the [writers'] strike just ended. I couldn’t have any conversations about this [until now], and granted, they just told me on Friday. But not only are we trying to [find a new network], I really believe the Starz executives when they say they want to see a future for the show too, because they did invest a lot in the show… I really do think it’s going to have a life someplace else.” Should they get a Season 3 elsewhere, the team has plans to explore Jack’s (Stephen Amell) injury in the Season 2 finale, the fallout of that final match for the DWL, andJack’s journey to overcoming it allto continue pursuing his dreams.
Cancelation was always somewhat in the back of O’Malley’s mind withHeelsSeason 2. The series enjoys a small but devoted fan base and, as a Starz original, he knew the advertising power behind it wasn’t nearly as strong as other networks or streaming services. He and the team hoped to promote the series heavily up to its release, including appearing atSan Diego Comic-Conearlier this year, but the dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes instead turned their focus towardfighting for better pay and protections.
What Has Happened in the Ring So Far in ‘Heels’?
Heelsis all about the journey of the Spade brothers, Jack and Ace (Alexander Ludwig), and their relationship in relation to their father’s legacy, the DWL. A look into the world of small-town wrestling, the series is all about chasing dreams as Jack tries tobring the DWL greater recognitionoutside their close-knit Georgia community while Ace tries to step out of his brother’s shadow. Tensions boil over as the lines between the ring and reality blur, bringing the characters' personal demons and drama to the forefront. Following a climactic Season 1 finale, Season 2delivered more of the samewith Jack and Ace more at odds than ever and Jack’s family life suffering all as the DWL and its wrestlers face a tenuous path to prominence.
LokiwriterMichael WaldroncreatedHeelswith a cast that featuredAmell and LudwigalongsideChris Bauer, Mary McCormack, Kelli Berglund, Allen Maldonado, Trey Tucker, Robby Ramos, Alice Barrett Mitchell, Roxton Garcia, David James Elliott, andJoel Murray. The series also sported some real pro wrestlers likeCM PunkandAJ Mendezamong its ranks.
Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the future ofHeels. The series is streaming in its entirety with the Starz add-on on Hulu or Amazon Prime. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
